Food Therapy for Pets - Nashville Holistic Veterinary Care

The Healing Powers of Food Therapy

Dog and cat eating out of a food bowl - Savannah Holistic Veterinary Care

Traditional Chinese Medicine believes (TCVM) in the healing power of food. Therefore, food therapy is one of the four major branches of TCVM. Food therapy is the art and science of tailoring diet plans to your pet based on their unique tendencies, age, species, geographical location, personality, and current disharmony. TCVM is the basis for Chinese food therapy recipes. Recipies are specific to each patient. Nashville Holistic Veterinary Care may recommend special foods to use or to eliminate some foods from your pet’s diet.

Like other TCVM modalities, the ultimate goal of food therapy is to restore and maintain balance in your pet’s body. However, given its very nature, the effects are slower-acting than treatments like acupuncture and herbal medicine. On the other hand, there are virtually no side effects when food ingredients are chosen correctly. You can use food therapy safely throughout your pet’s lifetime. Moreover, the practice is very popular amongst owners as it empowers them to take part in the TCVM therapy for their animals.

Three Categories of Food Therapy

Health Promotion & Prevention

To improve the health of your pet on a regular basis, and to prevent seasonal and climate-related health problems.

Disease Treatment

To directly treat clinical conditions, such as skin problems, autoimmune diseases, and immunodeficiency.

Adjunct Therapy

To complement primary treatments (acupuncture, herbs, or Western Medicine) for various diseases.

Nutrition

There are many options when it comes to feeding your pet. Commercial pet food has taken over, however, the industry did not exist until the 1900s. Before then cats and dogs ate a varied diet consisting of table scraps and butcher meats. Most of the commercial pet food today is highly processed and does not resemble anything close to real food. Most of us are trying to eliminate processed foods in our own diets, so it is time to consider how the food we feed our pets impacts their health. Nashville Holistic Veterinary Clinic will provide guidance on how to improve your pet’s diet and provide them with balanced, fresh foods.

Creating a healthy diet for your pet doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

An easy way to get started is to change out just one meal a day to a healthy, fresh cooked meal. Cats tend to prefer meats, however, dogs enjoy a variety of fresh foods. Rice, oats, beans, potatoes, vegetables, and meats are all good dietary sources for dogs. You can also practice healthy eating for your pet by simply feeding them less commercial food at each meal, and instead of mixing the commercial food with your healthy leftovers. Finally, you can feed your pet a completely whole food diet by creating the meals yourself or purchasing them already prepared in store. Switching to a fresh food diet can help resolve health concerns like digestive issues, skin problems, and ear infections.